Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-10-31
Gov. Gordon and Mr.. Davis.

In his speech in Cincinnati Friday night,
Governor Gordon, Of Georgia, alluded to
the reception of Mr.. Davis at Macon, as
follows:
SIT is charged that we cheered jeff. Davis.
Does that mean going to war again? Let
us reason. Suppose we didn't? Suppose we
turned our back on this pale. faced, broken
down old man? What did he do that
haven't done? I don't think I shot any
body, but tried pretty hard. You might
ask me to turn a cold shoulder on The wife
of my bosom. She went with me to the
front. She followed me to camp. shared my
dangers, even to the picket, and at times il
the danger CT the hattle, aud under Provi-
dence l owe to her tender nursing that my
life was spared me. Why should hate her ?
If we should turn our backs on that man,
refuse him our sympathies, We would merit
tho scorn of every brave man in this audi
cnce, and you would feel an absolute con-
tempt for us. When JEFF. Davis left the
U. S. Senate he left it rich with regret and
full of political honors. For our salses he
became poor and debarred forever from
political honors in his own country.
He fingers to day with broken health, and
scarcely place to LAY his head, dragging
after him the wounded limbs with ipcrens
ing suffering, that followed him from Bnena
Vista. What would you think OF me if
said, Go hence; have no more use for
you.' am not going to do it. would
have contempt for General Meryon (who sat
on the stage) if he went back on the grand
old name of Abraham Lincoln. Put your
self in the other fellows place. 1t was my
fortune few weeks ago, in Philadelphia.
to take in the celebration of the adoption
of the constitution. and when Georgia
had taken part. l was proud, as l
stood in the streets 10 see the shattered
remnants of the Union army bearing the
shattered remnants of the old flags and as
they were viewed b. that October light.
amid tho shouts of ten thousand throats, /
felt that thrill that knew was prevailing in
the veins Of strong and grand men, the rem.
nanls of the Grand Army Of the Republic.
Why shouldn't /? They were cousecreted
to the cause which WAS 10 those gathered
around them as holy as honor and truth. |
would have no faith in home and liberty if
those men did not love their old flags. So,
too, we loved ours. Let us get out of the
universe when hftred of the South is called
Loyalty to the North. / am going to chow
you that our children should love their flags
man is better who has the nerve to do
Justice whatever it costs. Was there any
honor in carrying these old fsga? They,
too, were woven by the patriotic hands of
Southern women. They were delivered to
husbands and brothers, consecreted by tears
and prayers. Some were rent with bullets,
blackened with gunpowder and Redeemed
with the blood of the brave. Don't we
build monuments TO the Confederate dead ?
Why General Grant, the greatest general of
the Union army, said he was willing to share
in the dedication of monument to the Con-
tederate dead. There isn't good sense in it,
and the mnn who tries to stir your passions
does not deserve your votes. You see in
some of your papers column after column
about rebel flags. This is the truth, was
there There were in all that great central
city of Macon, Ca. dozen Confederate
flags, and $4,000 of the Stars and Stripes,
aud Jet some people are SO color. blind that
they could not see anything but the rebel
flags; and yet the very carriage that bore |
Jeff Davis and the horses that drew him
we're literally covered with Union flags.
The very house that he was in was so covered |
With them az to almost bind him. Some
speeches were made, leader was chosen to
present memento of affection to his wife,
md the great climax of it WAS that the
Union was rehabilitated on Grmer basis
han ever"